St Johnstone WFC pushed champions Queen’s Park all the way on Wednesday evening but were defeated by a solitary first half goal.
Ami Robertson was the visitors’ scorer but Kev Candy’s side could be proud with how they performed in front of almost 500 supporters on the main pitch at McDiarmid Park.
Saints had started positively with excitement very much in the air and went close to finding the opener within the first minute of the game.
That was when determined play led to the ball breaking in a promising position for Steffi Simson but her low strike edged the wrong side of the post.
Queen’s Park, already crowned league champions, soon showed how dangerous they could be when Hannah Cunningham struck the outside of the post with an effort from range.
In an end-to-end opening, Candy’s team also continued to threaten and Olivia Hurrell was next to go close with a low attempt from inside the box. Goalkeeper Lucy Inman, however, was down quickly to save.
Up the other end and just shy of the 25-minute mark, visiting forward Abbie Callaghan attempted to break the deadlock but impressive Perth defending managed to ensure the ball diverted behind for a corner.
It was Queen’s Park who managed to break the deadlock in the 29th minute with the move kick-started by the surging forward run of centre-half Rachael O’Neill. Her cross found Robertson who neatly finished from six yards out.
Undeterred, Saints regrouped and looked dangerous as the break approached. Simson went close with a back-post header and then Ellie-May Cowie’s strong run and cross just needed a taker deep inside the box.
The hosts, following a triple change at the interval, went close to leveling the match up when substitute Jodie Malcolm’s pass was turned over by Cowie.
Malcolm was again looking to cause problems in the 57th minute and, when his delivery swept into the box, the ball just didn’t sit for Cowie to turn goalwards.
Queen’s Park soon threatened from a corner and, after hitting the post, Saints did well to put bodies on the line and clear the danger. Later in the half, goalkeeper Bobby Cochran was positioned well to comfortably save Rachael McConnachie’s strike.
Saints continued to work hard to find an equalizer and Elvie McLean’s 83rd minute strike from range did have Inman on her toes. Rebecca Robertson was then inches from a late leveler but her header from Niamh Irvine’s cross slipped the wrong side of the post.
The match was sponsored by Proximo3.
Saints: Cochran, MacIver (McLean 45), Carter, Clark (C), Cowie, Moodie, Simson (Irvine 72), Burns, Hurrell (Malcolm 45), McCafferty (Aitchison 88), Robertson.
